Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest

Social media plays a critical role as a significant source of political information among Malaysians. Generally, youth are categorized as active users of social media in their daily lives. When the government lowered the minimum voting age to 18 years from 21, around 6.23 million Malaysians were fir...

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Main Authors: Ng, Alicia Zi Qin, Jong, Ally Fang Yee, Choong, Wen Yee, Lee, Ming Yi, Nagadarshyini, Maniam
Format: Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.utar.edu.my/5803/
http://eprints.utar.edu.my/5803/1/fyp_PR_2023_ANZQ.pdf
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author Ng, Alicia Zi Qin
Jong, Ally Fang Yee
Choong, Wen Yee
Lee, Ming Yi
Nagadarshyini, Maniam
author_facet Ng, Alicia Zi Qin
Jong, Ally Fang Yee
Choong, Wen Yee
Lee, Ming Yi
Nagadarshyini, Maniam
author_sort Ng, Alicia Zi Qin
building UTAR Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Social media plays a critical role as a significant source of political information among Malaysians. Generally, youth are categorized as active users of social media in their daily lives. When the government lowered the minimum voting age to 18 years from 21, around 6.23 million Malaysians were first-time voters. However, disinterest in politics occurred among first-time voters. Fifteen interviewees aged 18 to 24 were selected to be the samples in this research to study about the influence of social media on political interest. This research applied Media Dependency Theory (MDT) as the theoretical framework. The contents of social media feed depend on the user’s social networking and social media algorithm, which are able to shape perceptions. Therefore, the political information the first-time voters are exposed to is able to influence the political interest and the decision-making of voting. All the results have been divided into six main themes, which will be linked to the influence of social media on political interest and decision-making on voting. All data collected has been stated to the body of knowledge for future use
first_indexed 2025-11-15T19:39:37Z
format Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
id utar-5803
institution Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-15T19:39:37Z
publishDate 2023
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling utar-58032023-08-11T09:34:52Z Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest Ng, Alicia Zi Qin Jong, Ally Fang Yee Choong, Wen Yee Lee, Ming Yi Nagadarshyini, Maniam H Social Sciences (General) HA Statistics JA Political science (General) Social media plays a critical role as a significant source of political information among Malaysians. Generally, youth are categorized as active users of social media in their daily lives. When the government lowered the minimum voting age to 18 years from 21, around 6.23 million Malaysians were first-time voters. However, disinterest in politics occurred among first-time voters. Fifteen interviewees aged 18 to 24 were selected to be the samples in this research to study about the influence of social media on political interest. This research applied Media Dependency Theory (MDT) as the theoretical framework. The contents of social media feed depend on the user’s social networking and social media algorithm, which are able to shape perceptions. Therefore, the political information the first-time voters are exposed to is able to influence the political interest and the decision-making of voting. All the results have been divided into six main themes, which will be linked to the influence of social media on political interest and decision-making on voting. All data collected has been stated to the body of knowledge for future use 2023-01 Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis NonPeerReviewed application/pdf http://eprints.utar.edu.my/5803/1/fyp_PR_2023_ANZQ.pdf Ng, Alicia Zi Qin and Jong, Ally Fang Yee and Choong, Wen Yee and Lee, Ming Yi and Nagadarshyini, Maniam (2023) Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest. Final Year Project, UTAR. http://eprints.utar.edu.my/5803/
spellingShingle H Social Sciences (General)
HA Statistics
JA Political science (General)
Ng, Alicia Zi Qin
Jong, Ally Fang Yee
Choong, Wen Yee
Lee, Ming Yi
Nagadarshyini, Maniam
Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest
title Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest
title_full Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest
title_fullStr Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest
title_full_unstemmed Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest
title_short Social media as a source of political information: First-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest
title_sort social media as a source of political information: first-time voters and the influence of social media on political interest
topic H Social Sciences (General)
HA Statistics
JA Political science (General)
url http://eprints.utar.edu.my/5803/
http://eprints.utar.edu.my/5803/1/fyp_PR_2023_ANZQ.pdf